Second Mou Yu?

The whistle blared long as the train slowly moved forward, the scenery of the platform sliding past the windows on either side.

Inside the carriage, teacher and student stood facing each other, speechless for a moment.

Wan Keshan had wanted to refute him, but when he recalled that Li Qingshan had seemingly always done what he said ever since enrolling, he could not help swallowing his words.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

"Fine, I believe you can do it. But are you really sure you want to skip a grade?"

Seeing Wan Keshan's grave expression and recalling his earlier words, Li Qingshan could not help asking in confusion,

"Teacher, is skipping a grade troublesome?"

"Not troublesome. I just need to fill out some paperwork and submit it." Wan Keshan shook his head and asked instead,

"But have you thought it through? The Martial Arts Class only has three grades, and there's no such thing as being held back. Once you skip a grade, it means you'll spend one less year in the Martial Arts Class."

Li Qingshan finally understood what Wan Keshan was worried about and said without hesitation,

"Teacher, it's fine. The remaining time is enough for me to charge into the top hundred of the Old Continent and head to the New Continent."

"Fine my ass!" Wan Keshan raised a hand to his forehead and said helplessly,

"Of course I know you can go to the New Continent, but the New Continent is only the beginning!"

Li Qingshan's heart stirred. Remembering their conversation from three months ago, he asked softly,

"Teacher, are you worried about the 'Final Battle'?"

The Final Battle was the entrance qualification battle for the New Continent's Martial Arts Universities.

"That's right. The gap between Martial Arts Universities on the New Continent is anything but small." Wan Keshan gave a brief explanation and glanced at Li Qingshan.

"You should know who the current 'Old Continent First' is, right?"

"Mou Yu?" Of course Li Qingshan remembered that name that had dominated the rankings.

"Mou Yu is a super genius from Tianfu Province. Back when she was in Second Year, she already had the strength to break into the top fifty."

"But she kept her ranking outside the top hundred and did not head to the New Continent early."

"If I'm not mistaken..." Wan Keshan paused, then said with emotion,

"Her goal should be Ziying Academy."

Wan Keshan did not explain just how strong Ziying Academy was, and Li Qingshan did not ask.

Because there was no need at all.

The planet beneath their feet was called Ziying Star.

For it to bear the name "Ziying," one could imagine what kind of existence it was.

"I had originally thought you might become a second Mou Yu, but after skipping a grade, you'll have one less year. I'm afraid..."

Wan Keshan glanced at his student, then finally laughed freely.

"So be it. I've said what needed to be said. The road is yours to choose!"

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Li Qingshan bowed slightly and offered his sincere thanks.

Wan Keshan did not know he had a cheat, so his worries were perfectly normal.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, skipping a grade merely for the Rookie Competition's rewards was obviously an unwise move.

But for Li Qingshan, with the Status Panel in existence, his rate of progress would only grow faster and faster.

One step ahead, every step ahead.

He simply could not wait until normal graduation in Third Year before heading to the New Continent.

Even next June's Final Battle was not entirely beyond his reach.

Naturally, becoming a second Mou Yu was impossible.

After all, he was Li Qingshan!

After teacher and student finished talking, they returned to the Martial Arts Class carriage.

The carriage was quiet. Everyone was concentrating as they listened to Teacher Li explain the precautions for this Rookie Competition.

"Our Wuyi Province covers a vast area and can be considered a major province in terms of territory. Aside from the provincial capital, Wu Yi City, there are another sixty-five ordinary cities."

"The number of Rookie Competition slots is equal to the number of Virtual Combat Pods each city possesses. Every city has ten slots, and Wuyi's ten high schools each have ten slots."

"That makes a total of seven hundred and fifty participants. As for the specific number from First Year and Second Year, that depends on each school's allocation."

"Still, they should be similar to us at Luoying. Around one-third will probably be First Year students."

As Teacher Li spoke, his gaze swept over Li Qingshan before settling on Zhong Xian and the others.

"In other words, you'll have roughly five hundred opponents."

With Li Qingshan in First Year, there was simply no suspense at all.

But in Second Year, even Zhong Xian would find it exceedingly difficult to contend for the rankings.

After hearing Teacher Li's words, everyone's expressions grew heavy.

Although they had long prepared themselves mentally, hearing just how many participants there would be still made their hearts uneasy.

After all, now that they were already on the train, who did not want to bring home a good result?

But among those hundreds of people, every one of them was no weaker than they were, perhaps even stronger.

Trying to fight for a place in the top ten—how could that be easy?

For a time, no one spoke, and the carriage fell completely silent.

The scenery outside flashed past. Li Qingshan leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes.

[Mizong Step 2951/3000 (Great Accomplishment)]

...

Two hours passed quickly. The train gradually slowed and entered the platform.

"Dear passengers, the train is about to arrive at Wuyi Station. Passengers getting off at Wuyi Station, please prepare your luggage and disembark."

As the announcement sounded, the train pulled into the station.

"Take your weapons and get off!"

With a shout from Wan Keshan, he led everyone off the train.

They had barely taken a few steps after getting off when Zhao Hongzhou suddenly grabbed Li Qingshan's arm and cried out,

"Brother Shan, look! The opponents are here."

Li Qingshan halted and looked in the direction Zhao Hongzhou pointed.

A group of people was getting off another train in the distance. Their setup was much the same as theirs: ten students carrying weapons, following behind two teachers.

"They should also be here for the Rookie Competition."

Li Qingshan nodded and withdrew his gaze.

"There's nothing strange about that."

Yu Lei glanced over as well and explained,

"We're all within the province. Even from the farthest places, it only takes a few hours by train. Teams from the other cities probably all set off today too."

As she spoke, another competing team got off the train.

Li Qingshan was no longer surprised. He casually swept them with a glance and continued onward.

Yu Lei was right. The Martial Arts Classes from all sixty-five cities had likely arrived that very morning.

As they drew closer to the exit, more and more teams with the same setup appeared.

Outside the exit, an enormous banner had been hung.

"Welcome teachers and students of the Martial Arts Classes from all cities to Wu Yi City for the Rookie Competition!"

Beneath the banner, people bustled back and forth in a scene much like university orientation from Li Qingshan's previous life.

"Teacher Li Xuan, long time no see!"

A thin male teacher approached Li Qingshan's group with a smile.

But after spotting Wan Keshan beside Teacher Li, his smile stiffened.

"Wan Keshan! Why are you here?"

"Watch how you speak!" Wan Keshan frowned and said with displeasure,

"Wang Yuzhi, is this how Wu Yi First High School treats its guests?"

"No, no..." Wang Yuzhi hurriedly waved his hands, forcing out a smile.

"Isn't it just that you haven't come to Wu Yi in a long time? I was only a little surprised."

"Heh. Don't worry, there'll be plenty more to surprise you this time."

Wan Keshan smiled meaningfully and did not pursue the matter further.

Though Wang Yuzhi found it strange that Wan Keshan had suddenly become so easy to talk to, he did not think much of it and instead said,

"You two, come back to the school with me first! The school has already prepared a meeting room to discuss the specific arrangements for this Rookie Competition."

"A meeting?" Teacher Li looked puzzled. There had not been such a procedure in previous years.

"A meeting it is!" Wan Keshan did not care in the slightest and waved a hand.

"Lead the way! I'd like to see what tricks you're trying to pull!"